The Castle and The Sikh Crown
An Open Letter to The Sikh Community
The first time I met my husband he told me that his turban is his crown. As a Sikh, he wears his turban with great pride and respect for our religion. Unfortunately, last year his crown was disrespected at the home of the crown, Windsor Castle when he was specifically targeted, and we were subjected to racial discrimination.
At the time I tried to resolve this privately via the appropriate channels by making a formal complaint in the first instance. However, I did not believe the actions taken following the investigation of my complaint were satisfactory, so I began to challenge this legally. Ultimately, they denied any record of the incident occurring and we were asked to prove it which left me with a difficult decision to make. Either I could take a huge financial risk to prove what I already know is the truth - that we were subjected to racism, and it was covered up, or accept that I as an individual cannot change a deeply flawed system which enables racists to be protected from the accountability of their actions. I reluctantly chose the latter with one exception. I realise that change can only occur if uncomfortable conversations take place. But they do not want to hear it, so I am writing this not for them but for my community, the Sikh community.
Whilst I have failed to get justice in this instance, I am succeeding today in telling the truth to you all without fear. I can no longer keep this to myself whilst the institutions involved continue to outwardly portray inclusivity, and respect for the Sikh faith. I am fully aware that those who speak out against racism are often vilified themselves but to say nothing would go against everything Sikhism represents to me. I hope that by speaking out others will be encouraged to stand up against discrimination wherever it occurs.
This is what happened to us that day.
On 12th September 2021, my husband, two-year-old son and I visited Windsor castle following a day out at Legoland Windsor. I wanted to see Windsor castle before returning home to Birmingham, the city in which I was born and raised, as not only was this home to HM the Queen at the time, but also a notable location in Sikh royal history which is a topic of great interest to me. The last Sikh Ruler of Punjab and first Sikh settler in Britain, though not by choice, Maharaja Duleep Singh had once stayed at Windsor castle as a guest of Queen Victoria. I thought about him that day when we visited Windsor Castle. How he must have felt as a turbaned Sikh living in Victorian Britain surrounded by people who did not look like him.
As we were walking by Windsor Castle a British Army soldier in full camo uniform was standing at an upper-level open window of the castle. He waved at my husband to get his attention from above. We were on the opposite side of the pavement with a direct view of him along with all the other passers-by. Once he had our attention, he gestured multiple times that he is watching us with locked eyes and two fingers pointed back and forth at his eyes and then at us. I thought he may have been joking for the crowd, so I smiled but I soon realised that we were the only ones he was doing this gesture at repeatedly. He continued doing this as we were walking. He then said something to another uniformed soldier standing at the window beside him, and they laughed together. Then he swore at us by mock scratching his face using his middle finger.
It was extremely threatening to see a soldier in full uniform making these kinds of gestures at us as I did not know why he was standing at a high vantage point gesturing that he is watching us repeatedly nor did I know if he had any weapons. It was intimidating and made me feel afraid for our safety when I realised it was targeted at my family only. Especially as I was pushing my toddler in his pushchair at the time of the incident. His middle finger gesture was extremely unprofessional and unprovoked. I chose to raise the issue with Windsor Castle when we returned home safely as I did not feel safe to do so at that time because the soldier is in a position of authority, and he was standing inside a very important landmark.
The Royal Collection Trust then forwarded my complaint to the army to investigate. I corresponded with an Army Lieutenant who emailed me on 14th September 2021 stating that he had ‘taken the necessary action to ensure that those concerned are fully aware of the completely unacceptable nature of their actions, the offence they have caused you and the wider impact on the reputation of both the Army and the Windsor Castle. May I extend my apologies both to you and your husband for the distress that has been caused. I am also disappointed that the actions of a few have damaged the reputation of all the other soldiers who perform and behave so admirably.’
I replied that I could not accept his apology until I was satisfied that appropriate steps had been taken to ensure that an incident like this would not happen again. The lieutenant stated in an email on 5th October 2021 that a second detailed investigation was undertaken, and soldiers assigned to State Ceremonial and Public Duties received refresher training on appropriate behaviours, values and attitudes. He said that he felt the matter had been dealt with appropriately. I respectfully disagree. A slap on the wrists and refresher training was incredibly insulting for an incident of this nature so I initiated a discrimination case. A letter before claim was served on the Ministry of Defence on 20th January 2022 and the Royal Collection Trust was copied in.
On 9th June 2022 after much delay, the Government Legal Department responded to my solicitor’s letter stating that they cannot find any evidence that the incident occurred or any evidence of discrimination towards us. They said that although the Lieutenant told us refresher training was given to the soldiers on guard that day, ‘this was as a matter of procedure and not in any way an admission that the alleged incident occurred, nor was it an admission of liability. The soldiers on guard at Windsor Castle on 12 September 2021 have all been spoken to and there has been no admission of this incident occurring’.
We were asked to prove it. If what the Government Legal department says is correct my initial suspicion that this was not dealt with appropriately is all but confirmed. If no soldier admitted to doing these vile actions that means that there were no repercussions for him or his colleague who laughed alongside him other than a group training session for all soldiers on guard that day at Windsor Castle. I am dumbfounded as to how a soldier in full uniform, supposedly representing the queen and country can racially discriminate against the public without any repercussions. To be made to feel unwelcome and unsafe was bad enough, but to then deny our experience of racism is dishonest and enables this type of behaviour and racist attitude to continue.
The Sikh community warmly welcome everyone into our spaces including the royals and the British army. Most recently King Charles attended a Gurdwara and a Siropa was bestowed upon him. The British Army recruit in Gurdwaras and at melas. They speak of diversity and use our images for recruitment and promotion, but this is self-serving if we are not respected by them. Prince William recently said that racism has no place in society. If that is the case, one must wonder why it keeps reoccurring in their own homes. Homes that we as taxpayers all pay for the upkeep of.
It is not my intention to tell the Sikh community what they should or should not do going forward. That is not my place. I aim to raise awareness because this could have happened to anyone of you. And if nothing changes, that could be sooner than you think.
Respectfully,
Rapinder Kaur
I dedicate this open letter to my son. This was your first experience of racism aged just two years old, but no doubt this won’t be your last. When that difficult time comes keep your head held high and never let your crown slip.